Block pressing apparatus



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C. H. YOUNG BLOCK PRESSi NG APPARATUS Filed. June 20, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ilulll/ ATTORNEYS.

05cm 21, 1947. YOUNG 2,429,286

BLOCK PRESSING APPARATUS Filed Ju ne 20, 1945 2 Sheets-$heet 2 W!TNE$SES: I gVENTOk /PW BY I ,fowlwwfiu 44., ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 21, 1947 BLOCK PRESSING APPARATUS I Clair 1. Young, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Harbison-Walker Refractories Company,

Pittsburgh, Pin, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 20, 1945, Serial No. 600,523

This invention relates to apparatus for pressing plastic clay and the like into shaped blocks, and more particularly to apparatus for pressing or repressing blanks or clots into .blocks having projections or recesses at their sides or ends.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide block pressing apparatus in which the projection or recess forming side of the die'is automatically moved away itrom the pressed block when the block is ejected from .the die, and in which this movementis produced by simple, durable and positive means.

In accordance with this invention a bottom die is disposed in the bottom of a die box having an open top. The die is movable upwardly in the box to receive a charge or clot ofclay and to eject a shaped block from the box. The clay in the box is pressed into a block of the desired shape by means of a top die which is movable 8 Claims. (Ci. 25-44) engages the outside of the-plate as the top die is lowered into the box.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view of my block pressing apparatus with the near side of the die box re moved; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus with a shaped block raised from the box ready to be removed; and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line IIII1I of Fig. 1

' without the block in the box.

- but a verticallyreciprocable bottom die ,2 nortom die above which it extends to form one side of the die. The inner surface of this plate is provided with alaterally extending area that forms a corresponding area in or on the adjoining face of the clot. This laterally extending area of the plate may be in the form of a projection in case the block is to be recessed. or a groove or recess in casea projection is to be formed on the block.

After the block has been pressed into shape the dies are moved upwardly to eject the block from the die box. As this occurs the upright hinged plate is swung'outwardly away from the block so that itwill not interfere with removal of the block from the bottom die. Swinging of the plate is accomplished by cooperating cam.

surfaces with which the box and plate are provided. Thus, either the box or the plate may be provided with a projection while the other is provided with a downwardly extending inclined sur face engageable with the projection when the bottom die is raised so as to force the plate to swing away from the block. Preferably, an end of the plate is provided with a downwardly exteiiding inclined slot while the box is provided with a projection for entering the slot when the 'plate is raised, whereby the plate is swung away from the block when the bottom die is raised and is swung toward the block when the die is lowered, It also is desirable to wedge the plate toward the block during the pressing operation. This may be performed by means of a wedging member that mally is disposed in the bottom of the box in sliding engagement with one end and two side walls of the box. This die which supports the plastic material being pressed into shape, is supported on a post 3 that can be raised and lowered in any suitable manner in order to lift the die to the top of the box after each pressing operation. Disposed above the bottom die is a top die 4 for shaping the top of a block. This die is carried on the lower end of a post 5 that likewise can be reciprocated vertically by any suitable means between a position in the top of the box and one spaced a sufiicient distanceabove it to permit the box to be charged and blocks removed.

One end'of the bottom die is spaced from the adjacent end of the box and is provided with a central projection 6 which is straddled by the bifurcated lower end of an upright end plate 1. Projection 6 and the lower end of the plate are hinged together by means of a horizontal pin 8 extending through them. The end plate extends upwardly to the top of the box and is adapted to engage the adjacent end of the top die to form the pressing and to relieve the hinge pin 8 of excessive pressure, the space between the lower portion of the plate and the adjacent end of the die box is filled by a filler piece i2 fastened to the box, while the space between the upper end of the plate and the end wall of the box is filled by a wedging member I3. The upper end of this member is connected by an arm I! to the upper post i, and the wedge enters the recess behind the end plate before the top die applies high pressure to the clot in the box.

It is a feature of this invention that when the bottom die is raised to elect a pressed block from the die box, end plate 8 automatically is swung away from the block in order to remove projection [0. This leaves the block free on the bottom die so" that it can readily be removed. According the opposite ends of the end plate each are provided with a downwardly extending slot l6 which is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the inner surface of the end plate; that is, toward block 9. Mounted on top of the die box at opposite ends of the end plate are brackets II from each of which a pin I8 projects inwardly over the end plate a short distance. 'As shown in Fig. 1, the pins are so located that they are directly above the upper ends of the inclined slots when the end plate is in its lower position. Therefore, when the bottom die is raised, the end plate rises straight up until its slots receive the pins. Continued upward movement of the bottom die causes the pins to bearagainst the outer walls of the slots and to thereby swing the end plate away from the block to remove its projection from the recess that it has formed therein, all as shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the pins and the walls of the slots form cooperating cam surfaces that control the position of plate 8. Obviously, before the end plate can swing away frOm the block, the top die must move upwardly away from the block far enough to remove wedge l3 from behind the plate. Therefore, the top die starts to move upwardly before the bottom die begins to rise.

After theblock has been removed from the bottom die and a new clot of clay placed thereon, the bottom die starts to descend, followed by the top die. This movement of the bttom die causes the inner walls of inclined slots IE to bear against pins l8 and to thereby swing the end plate forward into upright position. The filler piece I! keeps the plate from swinging away from the clot as the upper ends of the slots move down away from the pins. After the bottom die reaches the bottom of the die box and stops, the top die continues to descend in order to press the clot into the shape of block 9. Before the top die has moved very far into the box, wedge l3 moves down behind the end plate to holdit firmly in place while the top die completes the pressing operation.

It will be understood that without departing from this invention two or more sides of, the pressing chamber can be formed by swinging plates similar to plate 8.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: v g

1. Block pressing apparatus comprising a die box having an open top, a clot-supporting diein the box movable upwardly therein, a top die movable down into the box to press a clot into a shaped block, and an upright plate pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to one end of the bottom die and extending above it, the inner surafter the bottom die has raised the plate a pre-- determined distance in the box, and means engaging the plate for holding it against the block while the plate is moving through said predetermined distance.

2. Block pressing apparatus comprising a die box having an open top, a clot-supporting die in the box movable upwardly therein, a top die movable down into the box to press a clot into a shaped block, an upright plate pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to one end of the bottom die and extending above it, said plate slot.

being provided with a lateral projection to form a recess in the adjoining end of the clot, and said box and plate being provided with cooperating cam surfaces for swinging the plate away from said block when the bottom die is raised in the box, and means carried by the top die for holding the end plate in position while the top die is moving down and up the die box.

3. Block pressing apparatus comprising a die box having an open top, a clot-supporting die in the box movable upwardly therein, a top die movable down into the box to press a clot into a shaped block, an upright plate pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to one end of the bottom die and extending above it, said plate being provided with a lateral projection to form a recess in the adjoining end of the clot, and said box and plate being provided with coopcrating cam surfaces for swinging the plate away from said block when the bottom die is raised in the box, there being a recess behind the upper portion of the end plate when it is in pressing position, and a wedge carried by the top die and projecting into said recess in engagement with said plate when the top die is lowered into the die box, whereby to hold the plate in position.

4. Block pressing apparatus comprising a die box having an open top, a clot-supporting die in the box movable upwardly therein, a top die movable down into the box to press a clotinto a shaped block, an upright plate pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to one end of the .bottom die and extending above it, said plate being provided with a lateral projection to form a recess in the adjoining end of the clot, an end of the plate being provided with a downwardly extending inclined slot, a bracket mounted on the box at the slotted end of the plate, a pin projecting inwardly from the bracket above the upper end of said slot, said pin entering the slot when the bottom die is raised a predetermined distance to thereby swing the plate away from said block, and means for holding the rising plate against the block until said pin enters said 5. Block pressing apparatus comprising a die box having an open top, a clot-supporting die in the box movable upwardly therein, a top die movable down into the box to press a clot into a shaped block, an upright plate pivotally con-- nected on a horizontal axis to one end of the bottom die and extending above it, said plate being provided with a lateral projection to form a recess in the adjoining end of the clot, brackets mounted on the die box'at opposite ends of the end plate, and a pin projecting inwardly over the plate from each bracket, the opposite endsof the plate being provided with inclined slots extending downwardly from directly below said pins for receiving them after the bottom die has raised the plate a predetermined distance in the box, whereby to swing the plate away from said block.

6. Refractory pressing apparatus comprising a I adjoining end of the clot, and said box and plate being provided with cooperating cam surfaces for swinging the plate away from said block after the bottom die has raised the plate a predetermined distance in the box, there being a recess behind the upper portion of the end plate when it is in operative position, and a bracing member carried by the top die and projecting into said recess in engagement with said outer surface of the plate while the plate is moving through said predetermined distance.

7. Refractory pressing apparatus comprisinga die box having an open top, a clot-supporting bottom die in the box movable upwardly therein a top die movable down into the box to cooperate with the bottom die in pressing a clot into a -shaped block, an upright plate pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to one end of the bottom die and extending above it, said plate having an outer surface that is substantially vertical when the plate is in pressing position, the

inner surface of the plate being provided with a lateral projection to form a recess in the adjoining end of the clot, and said box and plate being provided with cooperating cam surfaces. for swinging the plate away from said block after the bottom die has raised the plate a predetermined distance in the box, means behind the lower portion of the end plate when it is in its lower position to support said lower portion against lateral pressure of the clot, there being a recess above said means, and a bracing member movable up and down with the top die and adapted to project into said recess and slide against said outer surface of the plate while the top die is moving down and up in the die box, whereby, to support the upper portion of the plate against lateral pressure of the clot.

8. Refractory. pressing apparatus comprising a die box having an open top, a clot-supporting bottom die in the boxmovable upwardly therein, a top die movable down into the box to cooperate with the bottom die in pressing a clot into a shaped block, an upright plate pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to one end of the bottom die and extending above it, said plate having an outer surface that is substantially vertical when the plate is in upright. pressing po-- sition, the inner surface of the plate being provided with a lateral projection to form a recess in the adjoining end of the clot, and said box and plate being provided with cooperating cam surfaces for swinging the plate away from said block after the bottom die has raised the plate a predetermined distance in the box, a backing member behind the lower portion of the end plate when it is in its lower position, said member having a substantially vertical surface engaging said vertical surface of the plate to support the lower portion of the plate against lateral pressure of the clot while the bottom die moves down and up in the lower portion of the box, there being a recess above said member, and a bracing member movable up and down with the top die and adapted to project into said recess and slide against said outer surface of the plate while the top die moves down and up in the die box, whereby to support the upper portion of the plate against lateral pressure of the clot,

CLAIR I. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,776,888 Clark Sept. 30, 1930 1,919,070, McKay et a1. July 18, 1933 2,330,762 Tooker Sept. 28, 1943 

